A 1-year-old child in Pennsylvania tragically died from poisoning, leading to the arrest of her father’s girlfriend, according to the state police. The girl, Iris Alfera, was taken to the hospital on June 25 after an alleged accident at her home in New Castle. Four days later, she succumbed to her injuries. The police investigation revealed a horrific set of allegations, accusing the girlfriend, Aleisia Owens, of feeding the child batteries, a metal screw, and poison. Doctors noted that the girl had multiple injuries, including retinal hemorrhages and organ failure. Owens was charged with criminal homicide, among other offenses, and if found guilty, she could face a life sentence.
The arrest of Aleisia Owens sheds light on a heartbreaking case in Pennsylvania, where a 1-year-old child lost her life due to alleged intentional poisoning. Iris Alfera was brought to a hospital in New Castle on June 25 after an incident at her home, and tragically, she passed away four days later. Pennsylvania state police investigated the case and uncovered disturbing details. It is alleged that Iris Alfera’s father’s girlfriend, Aleisia Owens, fed the 18-month-old child batteries, a metal screw, and poison.
According to the official police complaint, Owens called the authorities when she found the child lethargic. She claimed that the child had fallen off her bed, but the investigators discovered discrepancies in her account. The mattress was merely six inches from the floor and carpeted, making it highly unlikely for such a fall to cause such severe injuries. Doctors who examined the child determined that she had suffered from multiple injuries, including retinal hemorrhages, a subdural hematoma, and organ failure. They also noted that these injuries would have been noticeable to any caretaker during the weekend.
Further investigation into the case revealed that in the months leading up to her death, Iris Alfera had ingested a metal screw, three button batteries, and over 20 water beads, which are small toys that expand when exposed to water but can be dangerous if swallowed. To build a case against Owens, investigators analyzed her online searches using the phone she had provided. They found searches made from February to June, including queries about harmful medications and batteries for children. Owens also reportedly searched for information on giving acetone to a child and even how to pass a polygraph test.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Iris Alfera, revealing that she died from acetone poisoning, leading them to classify her death as a homicide. Consequently, Aleisia Owens was arrested and charged with a range of offenses, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault of a child under 6 years of age, endangering the welfare of children, and aggravated assault of a child under 13 years of age. She was denied bail, and if convicted, Owens could face a life sentence.
Attorney General Michelle Henry expressed profound sadness over the details of the case, stating, The details of this case are heartbreaking. It is hard to fathom someone taking deliberate steps to harm a completely helpless child, then mislead investigators about what happened. The tragic death of Iris Alfera serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of society and seeking justice in instances of such cruelty.
The full details of this heart-wrenching case in Pennsylvania continue to unfold as the investigation progresses. Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Iris Alfera during this unimaginably difficult time.
